PETROLEUM- History

Scientists believe that over the past 600 million years, oil has been formed deep in the earth from the decay of plant and animal remains, especially microscopic plankton, after being heated and compressed under thick layers of rock. After formation, oil and natural gas are often found together in dome-shaped geological “traps” deep beneath the surface of the earth. Crude oil and its more viscous form…interact with timeline>>pbs.org

HISTORY OF DRILLING TECHNOLOGY

Often used for drilling brine wells, a “spring-pole” well discovered oil in Appalachia. Steam-powered cable-tools drilled faster and deeper. Photo from “The World Struggle for Oil,” a 1924 film by the Department of the Interior….Learn more>>

History of the World Petroleum Industry (Key Dates)A chronological summary of some of the key events impacting the evolution of the world petroleum industry, significant world events that had a major impact on the oil industry are indicated in dark red. geohelp

6th Century BC – The army of Kir II, first shah of Achaemenid Empire ( present – Iran), used Absheron oil in weapons of fire to invade castles and cities. (Note: much of the historic information relating to the early history in the Middle East has been provided by Mir-Yusif Mir-Babayev, Professor of Azerbaijan Technical University in Baku ).

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUMPetroleum has been known throughout historical time. It was used in mortar, for coating walls and boat hulls, and as a fire weapon in defensive warfare. Native Americans used it in magic and medicine and in making paints. Pioneers bought it from the Native Americans for medicinal use and called it Seneca oil and Genesee oil. In Europe it was scooped from streams or holes in the ground, and in the early 19th cent. small quantities were made from shale. In 1815 several streets in Prague were lighted with petroleum lamps.